Passive sensor technology incorporating energy storage mechanism

• US 7,236,092 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New Sensor World, LLC
• Original Assignee: James A. Joy
• Inventors: Joy, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US10/923,763
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils

Abstract

A passive sensor system having the capacity to respond to a variety of stimuli in the form of pulses of a specified frequency. The system includes a sensor operatively connected to an LC circuit characterized by a quality factor (Q) of less than 200, and a high Q resonator having a Q greater than 200.

Claims

1. A passive sensor system having the capacity to respond to a variety of stimuli in the form of pulses of a specified frequency, said system including

a.) a sensor operatively connected to an LC circuit having a quality factor (Q) of less than 200, where Q is the center operating frequency of the circuit divided by the bandwidth thereof;

and,

b.) a high Q resonator incorporated in said LC circuit, where said resonator has a Q greater than 200, whereby to allow said sensor to store energy when said circuit is stimulated by an external device, said system further including means for tuning said circuit over a range of frequencies, where the sustaining signal from said high Q resonator will be phase modulated by said tuning means.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said stored energy returns a stable radio frequency (RF) signal to said LC circuit.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein controlling and sustaining the Q of said sensor depends upon the coupling level between said circuit and said high Q resonator, said coupling level may be taken from coupling mechanics selected from the group consisting of electrical, magnetic, inductive, capacitive, and resistive.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said high Q resonator has the ability to reversibly convert electrical RF energy into mechanical energy.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said high Q resonator is selected from the group of devices consisting of quartz crystals, MEMs resonators, dielectric resonators, and surface acoustical wave devices.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the selection of said high Q resonator is based on its ability to alter its operating frequency based on a desired measured parameter.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said sensor is operable to measure certain bodily functions.

8. A passive sensor system having the capacity to respond to a variety of stimuli in the form of pulses of a specified frequency, said system including

a.) a sensor operatively connected to an LC circuit having a quality factor (Q) of less than 200, where Q is the center operating frequency of the circuit divided by the bandwidth thereof;

and,

b.) a high Q resonator incorporated in said LC circuit, where said resonator has a Q greater than 200, whereby to allow said sensor to store energy when said circuit is stimulated by an external device, wherein said stored energy returns a stable radio frequency (RF) signal to said LC circuit, and said high Q resonator has the capability to selectively transmit information to said LC circuit, where said LC circuit acts as a phase modulator, and as a radiating device to transmit a return signal.